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Modern and Classical Languages
Department Chair: Margaret Cook
Faculty: Edward Baranowski, Patricia Bolaños-Fábres, Barbara
Bonyata, Bruce Campbell, Shirley Cardozo, Margaret Cook, Nathaniel
Dubin, Karen Erickson, José Antonio Fábres, Elizabeth Guzman, Telan
Hu OSB, Chikako Keymer, Andreas Kiryakakis, Camilla Krone, John Kulas
OSB, Marina Martín, Douglas Brent McBride, Maureen McCarter, Lisa
Ohm, Manuel Pastor, Thor Polson, Sarah Pruett, Scott Richardson,
Thorpe Running, Elena Sánchez Mora, Corey Shouse, Wendy Sterba, Mark
Thamert OSB, Vera Theisen, Jerome Tupa OSB, Vilma Walter, Gladys White
The study of another language is an adventure,
an exploration into the workings of minds both like and unlike our
own. As human minds mold language, so language also molds human minds.
A language is therefore not only a means by which we represent our
thoughts; it is also a medium that presents the world to us in a
certain way. When we learn a new language, we learn to see differently
- we acquire a new perspective from which to view both ourselves and
the world. In the literature of another language we encounter a
culture revealed, extended and tested by its most critical and
inventive thinkers, who use the language to explore their society's
limitations and possibilities. Because the study of language liberates
us from bondage to a single cultural perspective and allows us to
converse with members of another culture, it has from the times of the
ancient Romans been considered central to a liberal education.
Students of the classical languages - Greek
and Latin - strive to gain an understanding of the ancient peoples
whose hard thinking about the perplexities of the human condition,
preserved in literature of astonishing richness and beauty, has
provided the foundation of modern Western civilization. In these
languages the emphasis falls primarily upon developing the students'
reading ability.
Students of modern languages seek to
understand an intricate contemporary culture and explore the
literature and traditions that give it life. The major in French,
German, and Spanish, accordingly, consists of a balanced program of
languages, literature, and civilization, and should ideally include
one or two semesters of foreign study. Study of Chinese and Japanese,
integral to the Asian Studies minor, may include participation in the
colleges' study abroad programs in China and Japan.
For students whose first language is not
English, courses are available in English as a Second Language. The
focus in these courses is on improving language proficiency in
listening comprehension, speaking, reading and writing, with special
emphasis on the language skills necessary for success in an advanced
academic setting.
A language major is often interdisciplinary in
nature and prepares students for a wide variety of careers, both in
the United States and around the world. Some students pursue careers
in teaching or go on to graduate school in their field, others enter
those professions in which applicants with a broad liberal background
are sought. Beyond that, the linguistic competence associated with
such a major is increasingly of interest to employers in a growing
number of business, service, and government fields. As a result,
students often choose to join a foreign language major to an
additional major.
The MCL department also provides the core
curriculum requirement in language proficiency for all CSB/SJU
students. In order to fulfill this goal, all students should:
- Know the basic grammatical structures of
the target language.
- In the modern languages, achieve balanced
development of speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills.
- In the classical languages, develop reading
and writing skills.
- Understand the relationship between
language and culture.
- Acquire an inclusive perspective on the
target culture(s), one which ranges from artistic accomplishments to
details of everyday life.
- Demonstrate awareness of the intellectual
discussion provided by the learning of a foreign language above and
beyond the language's practical usefulness.
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